Life for restricted free agents was abysmal during the 2025 offseason. Josh Giddey was really the only one among the group to get a deal anywhere close to a desirable contract. That could spell trouble for next year's crop, including Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks.
Jake Fischer came around with his latest roundup of NBA intel. After a grueling summer for the restricted free agents, the NBA insider dove into some of the noteworthy rookie scale extension candidates who are entering the last year of their current contracts.
Jalen Duren and Daniels commanded the bulk of his attention, with Fischer of the belief that either could command offer sheets at $30 million per season if they were to hit the open market next offseason. Despite that, there was no impression the Hawks and Daniels were close to an agreement.
Fischer wrote, "I'm hearing there's indeed some distance between Daniels and the Hawks in the early stages of these negotiations. ... He would thus figure to be a restricted free agent in demand next summer ... even if RFAs in 2026 are confronted by another suffocating marketplace."
Dyson Daniels would bring defensive boost Lakers are craving on the perimeter
Trading for Daniels could be tricky for the Lakers, given the talented perimeter stopper is only earning $7.7 million in 2025-26, and the lackluster asset pool that Los Angeles possesses. A deal here would likely need to involve multiple teams, not just the Lakers and Hawks.
Still, it should be worth Rob Pelinka's time to at least check in on the availability of Daniels before the eventual NBA trade deadline in February. Last year's breakout season with the Hawks has earned the 22-year-old that type of warranted due diligence.
Daniels averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, while leading the league in steals per game with 3.0. The Hawks guard registered shooting splits of 49-34-59, posting his best true shooting percentage of his career at 54.5.
The efficiency with Daniels still leaves a lot of room to be desired. However, last year's Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year runner-up brings so much more to the table than his scoring alone.
Besides, Luka Doncic creates openings offensively like few others in the NBA. The potential addition of Daniels' elite defense far outweighs any concerns on the other end.
If the Lakers do not find an acceptable trade ask for the potential restricted free agent that they like, they can certainly revisit this conversation next summer and throw an offer sheet at Daniels. However, time is of the essence in Los Angeles.
Doncic and company want to win now. If there are reservations about committing to Daniels for the long-term in Atlanta, the Lakers need to gauge the price of the rising star.